IN an effort to contribute to the advocacy to push for durable solutions in rebuilding Marawi City, the VSO Philippines will be opening the Paint for Peace to Rebuild Marawi Art Exhibit Tuesday, April 24 at the Art Portal Gallery for Contemporary Art, Paseo de Legaspi, Davao City.
Lyca Sarenas, project manager for VSO Philippines, said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw Press Conference Monday, the art workshop aims to give the young Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) knowledge about painting and drawing. The art supplies used during the workshop were donated by the private sectors.
“Why are we doing this event? One would really be to provide psycho-social support to young people; second, they will be able to show their dreams, aspirations and even their fears, to show that art can really be a source of livelihood, also the most important objective is to highlight the situations of the Maranaos who remain displaced,” said Sarenas.
The paintings to be displayed were made by 50 young IDPs ages 14-24 from Marawi City after a two-day art workshop where they learned basic drawing and painting.
The community-based art workshop was organized by VSO Philippines, an independent international development organization together with five volunteer teaching artists lead by Alfred Galvez, a Dabawenyo who went to Marawi City last year.
Sarenas added that each art piece will be sold for P2,500 and all the proceeds will be directly given to the young IDPs themselves.
One of the young IDPs, Jalal T. Jamel who attended the press conference shared about what they’ve been through during the Marawi siege and their current status in the evacuation centers.
“It is hard for us, IDPs in the evacuation center because we are relying on the relief goods provided by the government,” said Jamel.
The paintings will also be featured by a non-government organization during the ADB Partners meeting in Manila next month. Some of it will also be brought to Geneva by a UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights of IDPs for the anniversary of the Declaration of the Protocol for IDPs. Yvonne C. Masloc, FSUU Intern)